Atlantic Ocean Temperatures Linked to Leishmaniasis Transmission in North Africa, Study Finds

Research by Adrià San José Plana and Xavier Rodó links year-to-year changes in cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in north Africa to climate variability originating in the Atlantic Ocean. The study found that slowly varying Atlantic temperatures influence westerly winds that carry moisture to the region, affecting rainfall, desert vegetation, rodent reservoirs and sandfly habitats. The findings lay groundwork for forecasting the disease in Morocco and Tunisia.